Factors Predicting Health-Related Quality of Life among People with Cervical Spondylosis Undergoing Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Cross-sectional

Cervical spondylosis affects many people worldwide and is a natural age-related disease associated with degenerative changes within the intervertebral disc. Despite the efficacy of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, people who undergo this operation can experience various symptoms that impact their health-related quality of life. Developing effective programs to improve health-related quality of life requires understanding the factors that predict it in this population. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the health-related quality of life in people with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and identify factors predicting the physical and mental components of health-related quality of life. This study had a convenience sample of 308 adults and older adults post-anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in Shanghai City, China. The data were collected through an online survey platform when participants were discharged. The research instruments included the Eating Assessment Tool-10, the Neck Disability Index, the Short Form Geriatric Depression Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Short Form Health Survey Version 1. Data analysis used descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression. The findings revealed a moderate level of health-related quality of life among people with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Remaining disability and depression could explain 46.50% of the variance in the physical component of the health-related quality of life. In contrast, smoking, gender, social support, depression, and remaining disability could explain 48.40% of the variance in the mental health component. The findings are useful for health professionals, including nurses, in designing comprehensive programs based on these factors to help people with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion to improve both the physical and mental health components of their quality of life. However, it is recommended that this study be replicated with different samples in different locations.